Next in a
series of postings concerning sailboat racing tradecraft, offering tips on
technique for various relevant topics, is trim and starting tips. These notes reflect some important points
we learned from the North U. seminar on sail trim and racing tactics presented
by Andrew Kerr at Macatawa Bay Yacht Club on June 12, 2026. This was another excellent seminar by Andrew
Kerr!... TRIM TIPS
Overarching goal in sail trim is to feel what the boat needs for speed and beat the instruments, which have an unavoidable lag. Ensure laminar flow on the foils to minimize leeway. Pay attention to adding more shape in the sails rather than overtrimming. For mainsail, ease sheet and pull traveler up. Trim to the edge of stall in flat water and medium breeze as indicated by mainsail leech top telltale.
Best lift on the foils occurs only with boatspeed. When the sails stall fully, it takes a long time to recover attached flow and boatspeed.
For mainsail leech top batten, best mix of speed and height is often 60:40 (streaming:stalled). To recover boatspeed, ease to 100:0 on top telltale. To gain height intentionally, 0:100 for a short duration may be justified.
More headstay sag opens the shape of the headsail for more power. Move clew inboard in light air for height. Trim backstay to reduce headstay sag, flatten jib, and reduce backwind on mainsail. Besides trimming backstay, ease inhauler and ease jib sheet to reduce backwind.
In lulls, be proactive in easing backstay, sheets, cunningham, and vang to power the boat up before your competitors. Need wind caller on the rail to see and call lulls, but maintain tolerance for him/her to be wrong occasionally.
Weight too far aft reduces feel of the rudder and wheel/tiller.
Get the boat to track with a constant heel angle. To judge heel, sight through the angle of the mast to the horizon.
Speed tip: give the mainsail trimmer time on the helm to experience how the mainsail steers the boat and controls heel.
Sailing the boat flatter improves sail exposure, improves lift of the foils, and minimizes leeway.
In rough sea state or chop, masthead moves dramatically, knocking air out of the sails and adding variability to instrument readings. Add twist on mainsail and headsail to power through. Helm should steer up the front of waves (with trim) and down the back (with ease). When adverse waves stop the boat, take resusitation time to power up the sail plan.
Pay attention to fore/aft trim. If the bow plunges, move weight aft. This helps keep the rudder in the water. If the bow slaps, move weight forward. The goal is the bow gliding with bow knuckle just out of the water.
Speed tip: move crew on the rail closer together to reduce the pitching moment.
Memorable quotes from Andrew…
"The driver is the trim tab; sails steer the boat."
"The trimmer operates with perpetual inquiry."
"The best trimmers are grumpy – never satisfied."
"Worship on the alter of boatspeed."
"Win the lulls."
"If necessary, take a recomposure moment to reset trim and diagnose."
"Hard hiking is sweat equity – owner doesn't have to buy anything."
"Be a student of apparent wind."
"Have a weight czar on the rail to advise."
STARTING TIPS
Best lift on the foils occurs only with boatspeed. When the sails stall fully, it takes a long time to recover attached flow and boatspeed.
For mainsail leech top batten, best mix of speed and height is often 60:40 (streaming:stalled). To recover boatspeed, ease to 100:0 on top telltale. To gain height intentionally, 0:100 for a short duration may be justified.
More headstay sag opens the shape of the headsail for more power. Move clew inboard in light air for height. Trim backstay to reduce headstay sag, flatten jib, and reduce backwind on mainsail. Besides trimming backstay, ease inhauler and ease jib sheet to reduce backwind.
In lulls, be proactive in easing backstay, sheets, cunningham, and vang to power the boat up before your competitors. Need wind caller on the rail to see and call lulls, but maintain tolerance for him/her to be wrong occasionally.
Weight too far aft reduces feel of the rudder and wheel/tiller.
Get the boat to track with a constant heel angle. To judge heel, sight through the angle of the mast to the horizon.
Speed tip: give the mainsail trimmer time on the helm to experience how the mainsail steers the boat and controls heel.
Sailing the boat flatter improves sail exposure, improves lift of the foils, and minimizes leeway.
In rough sea state or chop, masthead moves dramatically, knocking air out of the sails and adding variability to instrument readings. Add twist on mainsail and headsail to power through. Helm should steer up the front of waves (with trim) and down the back (with ease). When adverse waves stop the boat, take resusitation time to power up the sail plan.
Pay attention to fore/aft trim. If the bow plunges, move weight aft. This helps keep the rudder in the water. If the bow slaps, move weight forward. The goal is the bow gliding with bow knuckle just out of the water.
Speed tip: move crew on the rail closer together to reduce the pitching moment.
Memorable quotes from Andrew…
"The driver is the trim tab; sails steer the boat."
"The trimmer operates with perpetual inquiry."
"The best trimmers are grumpy – never satisfied."
"Worship on the alter of boatspeed."
"Win the lulls."
"If necessary, take a recomposure moment to reset trim and diagnose."
"Hard hiking is sweat equity – owner doesn't have to buy anything."
"Be a student of apparent wind."
"Have a weight czar on the rail to advise."
STARTING TIPS
Criteria for a good start: full speed, on time, at favored third of the line, gap leeward, low density area, tactical options, mayhem avoidance.
If an aggressive trailing boat mimicking your actions becomes annoying, when on port tack, gybe to starboard and aim right at her. The scare often results in her staying well clear thereafter.
Study carefully the starboard tack layline from the boat end of the start line. Get a compass heading and time the approach. Boats above the layline risk barging; boats below the layline may be unable to reach a windward boat to force her off or over the line.
Success tip: let the helmsperson sail his/her own start rather than expecting him/her to react to commands from another.
"Fires" occur all over the boat. Mitigate any loss by compartmentalizing the fire fighting to one or two crew. Don't let the helm, tactician, and trimmers divide their attention from their primary roles.
If early at the start, burn time some distance from the line vs. close to the line so that there is time to accelerate to full speed.
Easy way to check which end of the line is favored: reach along the line and note the correct trim for full speed. Reverse course, reach along the line in the other direction and note the correct trim. Harder trim will indicate the end that is further from the wind; thus, the other end is favored.
If the boat end is favored, it's easy to be early to the line. If the pin end is favored, it's easy to be late to the line.
Before the start, stay within 8-10 boat lengths of the start line to keep options open.
More memorable quotes from Andrew…
"Pinch fest at the pin end."
"Barge fest at the boat end."
"Win races by having more inquiry than others."
If an aggressive trailing boat mimicking your actions becomes annoying, when on port tack, gybe to starboard and aim right at her. The scare often results in her staying well clear thereafter.
Study carefully the starboard tack layline from the boat end of the start line. Get a compass heading and time the approach. Boats above the layline risk barging; boats below the layline may be unable to reach a windward boat to force her off or over the line.
Success tip: let the helmsperson sail his/her own start rather than expecting him/her to react to commands from another.
"Fires" occur all over the boat. Mitigate any loss by compartmentalizing the fire fighting to one or two crew. Don't let the helm, tactician, and trimmers divide their attention from their primary roles.
If early at the start, burn time some distance from the line vs. close to the line so that there is time to accelerate to full speed.
Easy way to check which end of the line is favored: reach along the line and note the correct trim for full speed. Reverse course, reach along the line in the other direction and note the correct trim. Harder trim will indicate the end that is further from the wind; thus, the other end is favored.
If the boat end is favored, it's easy to be early to the line. If the pin end is favored, it's easy to be late to the line.
Before the start, stay within 8-10 boat lengths of the start line to keep options open.
More memorable quotes from Andrew…
"Pinch fest at the pin end."
"Barge fest at the boat end."
"Win races by having more inquiry than others."
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